Filipino artists pursuing opportunities overseas could soon receive dedicated government support under a proposed measure developed by Sen. Bam Aquino with P-pop group SB19.
Aquino said the proposal seeks to establish an agency under the DTI Philippines that would assist Filipino artists working internationally while also helping promote Philippine music, culture and other creative industries in foreign markets.
The idea emerged after SB19 members Josh Cullen Santos and PABLO met with Aquino and discussed challenges encountered by local artists when traveling and working abroad, including visa concerns, coordination with foreign partners and the lack of a government office specifically tasked with assisting the creative sector.
Aquino said the proposed agency would be patterned in part after South Korea’s Korea Creative Content Agency, or KOCCA, which supports the expansion of Korean creative content in international markets.
“In the Philippines, if you’re an artist then you’re on your own,” Aquino said during a livestream with SB19, noting that artists often have to deal with overseas requirements and problems without dedicated institutional support.
Josh also raised concerns about the limited government assistance available to Filipino creatives trying to represent the country overseas.
He said artists promoting Philippine culture, language and talent can encounter obstacles that are not always addressed because there is no sector focused specifically on their needs.
Aquino said the Department of Trade and Industry has expressed support for the proposal and that the measure will soon be filed in the Senate.
“We’re hoping that when that is established, we will have a Philippine agency for our creative economy which will support our artists going abroad,” Aquino said.
The announcement came as the Senate adopted a resolution commending SB19 for becoming the first Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza earlier this year, marking another international milestone for the group and Philippine pop music.
Aquino and SB19 said they would continue working together on the proposed measure, with Stell Ajero calling the initiative the “collab of the year.”
